Patents by Inventor Wayne Keith Webb

Wayne Keith Webb has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8133366
    Abstract: There is provided a substantially permanent stainless steel cathode plate suitable for use in electrorefining of metal cathodes, the cathode being composed of a low-nickel duplex steel or a lower grade “304” steel, wherein operational adherence of an electrodeposition thereon is enabled by altering various qualities of the cathode surface. There is also provided a method of producing the above duplex or Grade 304 cathode plates, such that the desired operational adherence of the deposit upon the plate is not so strong as to prevent the deposit being removed during subsequent handling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Xstrata Queensland Limited
    Inventor: Wayne Keith Webb
  • Patent number: 7914651
    Abstract: A cathode plate and method for electro-refining or electro-winning of metal. The cathode includes a cathode blade and hanger bar. A quantity of electrically conductive material is wrapped around the hanger bar and along the cathode blade to a position, in use, proximate the level of electrolyte in the electrolytic bath. The provision of a deeper and preferably thicker coating of electrically conductive material, as compared with conventional cathode plates, reduces power consumption in the electrolytic circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Mount Isa Mines Limited
    Inventors: Nigel James Aslin, Wayne Keith Webb, Reville Wayne Armstrong, Tim Robinson
  • Publication number: 20100314255
    Abstract: There is provided a substantially permanent stainless steel cathode plate suitable for use in electrorefining of metal cathodes, the cathode being composed of a low-nickel duplex steel or a lower grade “304” steel, wherein operational adherence of an electrodeposition thereon is enabled by altering various qualities of the cathode surface. There is also provided a method of producing the above duplex or Grade 304 cathode plates, such that the desired operational adherence of the deposit upon the plate is not so strong as to prevent the deposit being removed during subsequent handling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2010
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Applicant: Xstrata Queensland Limited
    Inventor: Wayne Keith Webb
  • Patent number: 7807028
    Abstract: There is provided a substantially permanent stainless steel cathode plate suitable for use in electrorefining of metal cathodes, the cathode being composed of a low-nickel duplex steel or a lower grade “304” steel, wherein operational adherence of an electrodeposition thereon is enabled by altering various qualities of the cathode surface. There is also provided a method of producing the above duplex or Grade 304 cathode plates, such that the desired operational adherence of the deposit upon the plate is not so strong as to prevent the deposit being removed during subsequent handling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Xstrata Queensland Limited
    Inventor: Wayne Keith Webb
  • Patent number: 7807029
    Abstract: There is provided a substantially permanent stainless steel cathode plate (1) suitable for use in electrorefining of metal cathodes, the cathode being composed of a low-nickel duplex steel or a lower grade “304” steel, wherein operational adherence of an electrode-position thereon is enabled by altering various qualities of the cathode surface. There is also provided a method of producing the above duplex or Grade 304 cathode plates, such that the desired operational adherence of the deposit upon the plate is not so strong as to prevent the metal deposit being removed during subsequent handling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Xstrata Queensland Limited
    Inventor: Wayne Keith Webb
  • Publication number: 20100219080
    Abstract: The present invention relates to electrolytic recovery of metal, and in particular methods and apparatus for producing cathode plates suitable for such electrolytic recovery. A first aspect of the invention provides a method of providing an electrically conductive coating on a cathode plate comprising inverting and submerging an upper portion of the cathode plate in an electrolytic bath adjacent at least one anode and applying a current to electroplate the upper portion of the cathode plate wherein each anode includes: i) a first base portion adapted to be positioned adjacent to a hanger bar of said cathode plate; ii) a second extended portion connected to and extending from the base portion and adapted to be positioned adjacent a blade of the cathode plate wherein the profile of each anode is shaped such that in use, a consistent thickness of coating is electroplated over said hanger bar and cathode blade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2010
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Applicant: Xstrata Queensland Limited
    Inventors: Wayne Keith Webb, Joanne Weston, Graham Heferen
  • Patent number: 7780837
    Abstract: The present invention relates to electrolytic recovery of metal, and in particular methods and apparatus for producing cathode plates suitable for such electrolytic recovery. The invention provides a method of providing an electrically conductive coating on a cathode plate comprising inverting and submerging an upper portion of the cathode plate in an electrolytic bath adjacent at least one anode and applying a current to electroplate the upper portion of the cathode plate wherein each anode includes: i) a first base portion adapted to be positioned adjacent to a hanger bar of said cathode plate; ii) a second extended portion connected to and extending from the base portion and adapted to be positioned adjacent a blade of the cathode plate wherein the profile of each anode is shaped such that in use, a consistent thickness of coating is electroplated over said hanger bar and cathode blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Xstrata Queensland Limited
    Inventors: Wayne Keith Webb, Joanne Weston, Graham Heferen
  • Publication number: 20080156655
    Abstract: A cathode plate and method for electro-refining or electro-winning of metal. The cathode includes a cathode blade and hanger bar. A quantity of electrically conductive material is wrapped around the hanger bar and along the cathode blade to a position, in use, proximate the level of electrolyte in the electrolytic bath. The provision of a deeper and preferably thicker coating of electrically conductive material, as compared with conventional cathode plates, reduces power consumption in the electrolytic circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventors: Nigel James ASLIN, Wayne Keith Webb, Reville Wayne Armstrong, Tim Robinson
  • Patent number: 7344624
    Abstract: A cathode plate and method for electro-refining or electro-winning of metal. The cathode includes a cathode blade and hanger bar. A quantity of electrically conductive material is wrapped around the hanger bar and along the cathode blade to a position, in use, proximate the level of electrolyte in the electrolytic bath. The provision of a deeper and preferably thicker coating of electrically conductive material, as compared with conventional cathode plates, reduces power consumption in the electrolytic circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Mount Isa Mines Limited
    Inventors: Nigel James Aslin, Wayne Keith Webb, Reville Wayne Armstrong, Tim Robinson
  • Patent number: 7332064
    Abstract: A hangar bar for a cathode plate and a method of producing a cathode for electrolytic recovery of metal. The hanger bar comprises a support element which is preferably stainless steel and hollow. An electrically conductive metal cladding is affixed the stainless steel bar by any appropriate mechanism, eg interference fit, welding, chemical or mechanical fastening or coextrusion or roll forming. Affixing the cladding to the stainless steel support element has significant advantages over conventional electroplating techniques including that a more precise engineering specification can be applied to the cladding thickness. This is important to maintain vertical alignment of the cathode plate in the electrolytic cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Mount Isa Mines Limited
    Inventor: Wayne Keith Webb